Gel coat color, doesnt look white

[ppkaprince98]

OK, so this may sound crazy, but I am almost convinced that my boat (rub rail down) is not white, it looks more like a cream color. Is that even possible? I have buffed, polished and waxed the boat thoroghly and it looks great the reflection is great it feels smooth, but its just not white. When I remove the wax with a new clean white towel there is no comparison of the colors. The other thing here, is, that the swim platform and the top half of my boat look more white and are much closer color wise to the towel. So what is going on here? I can try to get some pics to show you.

Thanks

 

[JimG]

There are dozens of shades of white that Sea Ray uses... probably none of them plain white. Do you think its changed from when you got it?

 

[ppkaprince98]

There are dozens of shades of white that Sea Ray uses... probably none of them plain white. Do you think its changed from when you got it?

I bought the boat at the end of last year, so I am just cleaning it all up. So I dont really know if it has changed.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The topside has faded a bit over the years. The hull, below the rubrail, is the original color. But, yes, your eyes are not deceiving you.

 

[ppkaprince98]

I have had very high expectation that from reading a bunch in this forum that I can restore my boat to a brand new gleaming shine, and that is what I am after. But Im struggling with the color thing, I guess I was expecting to get that bright white color that you see new boats have in the showroom.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You'll never get that, since the original color was not a bright white. You certainly can get it shiny and reflective, but like Jim said, there's been many, many shades of white used over the years. The shades even change not just within a model year, but also within the model lineup. For example, "Sports" may use one color of white, while "Selects" may use another, and then "Sundecks" another, then small cruiser still another, medium-sized cruisers another... etc.

 

[ppkaprince98]

BUt shouldnt the top and bottom match then? Could I try and wet sand a small area to see if the color changes?


I just read that when the white color in the gelcoat oxidizes is gets a yellow tint to it, and to bring that back to bright white plan on wet sanding. I would assume that is mostly likely what happening. I dont think I have removed enough of the gelcoat to remove the oxidation, I have simply polished and waxed it up so now I have a nice shiny oxidized boat. :smt089 :lol:

 

[Lazy Daze]

BUt shouldnt the top and bottom match then?

Originally they matched. Sometimes the colors can be brought back to match. But, at some point, the game is over and no amount of elbow grease will make them match again.

Now, if you're experiencing something more than the usual, maybe there are contaminants (whatever they are) in the hull side skewing the off-white color to be a little more off-white. You could try compounding to see if it makes a difference - it certainly can't hurt. Just don't get too wrapped up in it as you'll just end up pulling your hair out.:smt101

 

[2texoma]

Many wipe on instant shine polishs yellow over time and are difficult to remove. Rub a spot with alcohol on a white cloth to see if it removes the yellow. If the yellow comes off,use white 3m pads in place of cloth to speed up the job. If wet sanding removes the yellow,that points to a yellowed polish or contaminate that should desolve with the right solvent. If it turns out the off white is simply the origional color,you might consider painting the faded upper a darker color to make lower appear whiter.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Do you have a close up photo that shows the difference? I think Dennis has it correct with the fading between the top side and below the rub rail. I am also noticing the topside fading faster than the hull - not a huge difference but you can see it if you really look hard. I de-oxidize and wax every spring but I can't fight mother nature. My boat looks bright white but I notice a different shade of white on my vent covers that can be very noticeable on a bright day too.

I don't think you have a defect -- it's just the nature of gelcoat and sun.

 

[XSIVHP]

Mine appeared to be this way, it had been used in the Ohio river and rarely cleaned. Sun will turn anything yellow over time. My boat had some moderate oxidation in the colors so after buffing with 3m rubbing compound. It brightened up a lot. If I keep the boat longer than a few years, I'll fix the scratches and chips then sand the hull and buff it all over again. But it the meantime, I'd get busy with a buffer and a good compound and get some results. My looks a lot brighter now.

 

[Jack380AC]

Chris,
Don't go rubbing sanding too much. I think the color (not really yellow-more like a cream) that you are seeing below the rub rail is closer to the original color. The whiter top sides is in fact faded from the sun and/or still has oxidation. If you compond the top side (try a small area) and start to look more creamy, this will validate my suggestion. The angle of the boat to the sun below the rub rail is angled away from the sun. Therefore, it gets less abuse and lasts longer. Sea Ray white is less white than some other boats.